The Marhaura Sugar Mill in Saran district, which has been closed for nearly three decades, is once again at the center of a controversy. While earlier demands focused on its revival, a recent alleged government move to relocate and establish a new mill at Ramkola Farm House in Taraiya has angered local residents. In a meeting held on Sunday at the mill premises, youth, local public representatives, and social activists unanimously passed a resolution demanding that if the mill is to be restarted, it must be done at its original Marhaura site.

Local residents argue that Marhaura already possesses a large mill complex and associated infrastructure. Therefore, instead of establishing a new mill elsewhere, the existing premises should be utilized to revive the old industrial unit. They emphasize that this issue is not merely about employment but also about Marhaura's industrial identity. The dispute intensified after information emerged regarding the Cane Industry Department's process to acquire land at Ramkola Farm House in Taraiya for a new sugar mill, with details from the department's proceedings dated July 16, 2026, coming to light.

Attendees at the meeting warned that if positive steps are not taken soon, they would launch a phased agitation. They urged the government to consider the opinions of Marhaura residents and the available land and old infrastructure before making any decisions about the mill's future. The meeting was conducted by RJD Vyapari Prakoshth leader Vishnu Gupta, with prominent figures including Congress leader Lalbabu Giri, Neeraj Kumar Singh, Aditya Kumar, Atul Pratap Singh, Manoj Gupta, Yuvraj Bhaskar, Deputy Mukhiya Ajit Kumar Singh, and BDC Mohan Sah in attendance. This is not the first time the Marhaura mill has become a political issue; promises of its revival have been made during election campaigns for years.